Then Skunk fell back with a scream, and the two of them tumbled down the pile of junk together. Metal clanged and cans clattered as they rolled together on the floor.
"Get off! Get off me!" Skunk shrieked.
May leaped forward and grabbed his arm, holding on as hard as she could.
Skunk tried to wrench his arm free, but he couldn't do it, and May was glad that Owen now had a firm hold of his other arm, and was dragging it behind the dealer's back.
The click of the handcuffs sounded loud in the silence.
Skunk was breathing in great, rasping gulps, and she could see he was exhausted.
He turned to look over his shoulder at Owen and May. He let out a vicious curse.
"You're coming in to the police department," May told him breathlessly but triumphantly. "We need to question you in connection with two recent murders."
*
Half an hour later, May stood outside the interview room, ready to question Skunk. Her nerves were still jangling after that chase. If he'd gotten away, if he'd managed to vanish into the gloom, they'd never have caught him.
And now it was fully dark.
"You were brilliant taking that shortcut," she told Owen.
He nodded modestly. "I remembered being called out to that area a few months ago, and I had a good idea of the layout. I'm just lucky he chose to run that way," he said.
"Well, let's see if we carry on being lucky and he confesses," May said.
Although, as she stepped inside the interview room, she knew this part of the investigation rested solely on her shoulders. There was no more luck involved. Skill and thoroughness would get her where she wanted to be.
Drawing on her control and resolve, May stepped into the room with Owen following her.
Skunk glared at them. He didn't look any friendlier in the harsh light of the interview room. In fact, May thought, it accentuated his frown lines as he met her eyes.
"Ryan Hatcher," she said firmly.
"What is it?" Skunk snapped.
May took a deep breath. She had no doubt that this man was a drug dealer. What she didn't know was whether he was a killer. She had to make him realize he was cornered, and there was no point in him denying the full truth anymore.
"We have evidence that you have been dealing drugs in this area, and particularly, that you were seen at a post-prom party at the Hazelwood Pavilion last night," May said.
Skunk blinked. "Not me," he said reflexively.
"Can you confirm your whereabouts last night?" May asked calmly.
Skunk looked at the floor. "Er," he said. "I was at home."
"Witnesses saw you at the party. I believe the term 'chased off' was used. Is that your Chevy? If so, you do know we can check camera footage on all available observation points. There are several between the trailer park and the venue. I'm sure if we search, we might pick you up. Of course if we find you have been lying to us, it won't go well for you at all. Didn't you just get out of jail recently? I'm pretty sure you got out of jail not too long ago."
"You wouldn't want to go back, would you?" Owen added.
"I - I swear, man, I'm clean. Did you find any drugs on me?" Skunk asked innocently.
May was sure he'd dumped them in the Chevy before leading them on that chase.
"You went there to sell drugs," May insisted. "You went there to sell drugs, and then things went wrong. Perhaps you perceived that the second victim was treading on your turf?"
Skunk's mouth fell open.